The city of Los Angeles got in touch with its inner child on Thursday, Aug. 21 when its Department of Recreation and Parks approved the purchase of a 99-year-old inoperative merry-go-round at a price of $1 million for the benefit of children who visit Griffith Park.
By a 3-0 vote, the RAP board of commissioners authorized buying the 1926 Spillman Engineering Carousel, known for 88 years as the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, from a private party in order for the grand ride to once again spin and create smiles within the city’s largest park.
The purchase will be finalized in a few months. Then the city will begin a campaign with nonprofits, sponsors and philanthropists to pay for restoring the ride to operating condition. Restoration will be a multi-year process that will cost up to $2 million, the city reported.
Commissioners raised hopes the old-fashioned carousel could be back in business in time for the modern LA 2028 Olympic Games in three years.
“With the Olympics coming in 2028, it would be a nice time to reopen. Visitors would want to see Griffith Park. And it would be nice for the world to take a little merry-go-round ride,” said Renata Simril, president of the RAP board after the unanimous vote.
With few interruptions, one of the largest carousels in the country with four rows of 68 up-and-down painted wooden horses and rows of decorative panels and ceiling squares, has entertained children in Los Angeles since 1937. It went dark in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, then operated for about another year before it closed in May 2022 due to mechanical problems, according to a RAP report.
When it went up for sale by sellers R&J Amusement Co. LLC, the city swooped in. Three different appraisals ordered by the city put the value between $900,000 and $1 million. The City Attorney and General Services Department began negotiating after hearing a third party may buy it and move it out of the park.
“The Merry-Go-Round is a one-of-a-kind, historically significant carousel that has contributed to Griffith Park being a beloved and unique destination for Angelenos and visitors alike for nearly a century,” the city reported. The purchase ensures it will remain in Griffith Park, most likely where it has been for decades, in an area of the park called Park Center, near the Old Zoo Picnic Area and Shane’s Inspiration Playground.
“We are thrilled,” said Marian Dodge, board member on the nonprofit Friends of Griffith Park. “At least it is staying in the park.”
“It is a long time coming,” said Gerry Hans, president of the FofGP group on Thursday after the vote. So far, the group has raised $10,000. But since an article in this newspaper on Wednesday previewing the action, Hans said his email box has filled with prospective donors.
“It is going to be a campaign, not just of Friends of Griffith Park but also with Council District 4, the RAP and others will be very involved. We have already identified some high-level donors,” Hans said.
Nithya Raman, who represents District 4 on the L.A. City Council, said in a letter to the RAP board urging a yes vote: “The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round is a crown jewel of our landmark park and our entire park system.”
Support also came from the Griffith J. Griffith Charitable Trust, which represents the interests of Col. Griffith, who donated the original 3,015 acres to the city in 1896 on condition it become a park for families at affordable prices.
It’s conceivable the city will look toward Disney for donations. The Los Angeles Conservancy, and many other groups mentioned in their letters how Walt Disney frequently visited the carousel, watching his children ride. It was credited as the inspiration for Disneyland, which opened in 1955 with its own carousel ride.
About seven months after the merry-go-round stopped running, the city RAP closed down the park’s pony rides concession, after four ponies had died and the owner failed to immediately report the deaths to the city. An animal rights’ group protested several times, saying ponies giving rides to children was inhumane.
RAP general manager Jimmy Kim said a new report on the subject of pony rides in the park is due out and will be discussed at the Oct. 4 meeting. Some park watchers believe the pony rides could come back.
“As we have preached before, how long are these two, low-cost attractions going to be shuttered, namely the pony rides and the merry-go-round?” asked Hans, who along with his group, supported keeping the pony rides. The group was instrumental in alerting the city to the carousel being put up for sale and urged the city to act quickly.
Roland Hopkins, owner of AntiqueCarousels.com in South Pasadena, did an appraisal of the merry-go-round. In an interview Thursday, he said the craftsmanship is unmatched.
“Just look at it. It is not your typical carousel. This one is a notch above and beyond,” he said. “The detail and the carving of each horse are unlike any other that came out of that shop.”
To find out more, or to donate to the merry-go-round repair fund, go online to Friendsofgriffithpark.org. Also donations can be made by check to: Friends of Griffith Park. In the memo section, write “merry-go-round.” Mail to: P.O. Box 27573, Los Angeles, 90027.